A Lincoln woman has insisted she's 'no hero' after receiving a top award for helping catch a mugger with a knife who robbed a pensioner outside a bank.

Nina Sutton, 52, alongside Carl Pettit and Bernard Greene were all highly commended by the judge at the court for risking their lives to help prevent Scott Overton from escaping after he robbed a purse from an elderly lady outside the Barclays bank in Tritton Road on April 11, earlier this year.

Overton had been carrying a knife and stabbed Mr Pettit five times as he bear-hugged him to the ground.

Mr Greene then stamped on the thief’s hand before Mrs Sutton kicked the weapon away.

Together they managed to detain the 42-year-old until police arrived and arrested him.

Overton was sentenced to nine years and seven months after pleading guilty to a series of offences including robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Lincoln Crown Court in May.

All three have-a-go heroes received a High Sheriff's award in a special ceremony at Lincoln Castle on Monday, July 24.

Mrs Sutton said she is proud to be recognised, but modestly added that she felt her role was not as important as Mr Pettit, who suffered multiple wounds.

(Image: Google Street View)

“I was sat in my car outside the bank when all of a sudden to the right hand side of my door I saw an elderly woman go down.

“I ran out of the car and saw a guy running off in the distance.

“The poor old lady looked at me, with her face hurt and said ‘he’s robbed me’, so my instinct was too just run after him. I don’t know what I would have done had I got to him first as there was no chance that I would have been able to detain him.

“I don’t really feel like I did anything. My instinct was too just help, but the judge said that not all people would. I am grateful but really it is because of the man who was stabbed that he was detained. I feel he deserves more than he has got, especially from the bank, who I don’t think have done anything for him.”

At the trial, the court heard that 70 year-old Shirley Wright suffered broken bones as a result of the mugging, but did go to make a full recovery.

Mrs Sutton revealed that she has not spoken to Ms Wright or any of the others involved but added that the incident is never too far from her thoughts.

“I didn’t really feel anything at the time,” she said. “But I remember the DIS officer coming round to get my statement and I was definitely shook-up.

“I often think what would have happened had I got there first.

“I still get anxious when I go to the bank now and I often look around to make sure it is safe.”